Blind Manchester pensioners to get bionic eyes
Old age pensioners in the Manchester area suffering from blindness are set to benefit from a revolutionary new treatment, in the form of bionic eyes.
Surgeons working at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital will be carrying out the first set of bionic eye implant trials anywhere in the world, for those with Macular Degeneration caused by age.
This is the developed world’s most frequent cause of blindness, which means the new treatment could prove genuinely game changing.
Already it has been used to treat three people living in the area who were rendered blind through retinitis pigmentosa, leading to a transformation in their lives. One of these patients, referred to as Argus II, found he was able to read following the implants, while a second patient could see fireworks.
The next stage is to find patients with an untreatable, dry type of AMD, and fit them with the implants.
Professor Paulo Stanga from the hospital said:
Hospitals such as this one often make use of printing services in Manchester and other areas to provide them with posters and leaflets advertising the treatments they offer.
People in the Manchester area are now actively being sought for the next stage of the trials.
Surgeons working at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital will be carrying out the first set of bionic eye implant trials anywhere in the world, for those with Macular Degeneration caused by age.
This is the developed world’s most frequent cause of blindness, which means the new treatment could prove genuinely game changing.
Already it has been used to treat three people living in the area who were rendered blind through retinitis pigmentosa, leading to a transformation in their lives. One of these patients, referred to as Argus II, found he was able to read following the implants, while a second patient could see fireworks.
The next stage is to find patients with an untreatable, dry type of AMD, and fit them with the implants.
Professor Paulo Stanga from the hospital said:
“We feel privileged to be conducting the world’s first study into retinal implants for patients with AMD.
“This technology is revolutionary and changes patients’ lives – restoring some functional vision and helping them to live more independently.”
Hospitals such as this one often make use of printing services in Manchester and other areas to provide them with posters and leaflets advertising the treatments they offer.
People in the Manchester area are now actively being sought for the next stage of the trials.